ACID RAIN (blogging Proverbs 28:3)

Proverbs 28: 3     A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

Proverbs 28:3.  Basic, common-sense principles of farming: Drought is bad.  Rain is good.  Drought means less food.  Rain means crops grow.

The environmental phenomenon known as “acid rain” violates those basic, common-sense principles.  Acid rain carries toxins , and when it falls it poisons the plants and the soil.  Acid rain in a season of drought is worse than no rain at all.

Poor neighborhoods, poor churches, poor families are stuck in a season of drought.  When a poor member of that poor community victimizes his/her neighbors he/she is like a driving acid rain. 

Drug dealers, stick-up kids, and shooters in the hood are not heroes.  They are not “keeping it real.” They do not have love for their communities just because their address is still in the community.  They are poison. 

Look around.  Are the families on the block blossoming or suffering?  Are businesses flourishing and hiring or closing and fleeing?  Is there joy and peace and hope, or year after year does the neighborhood feel more and more like a hungry grave?  The poor who oppress the poor are a poison rain.

That church elder who keeps the little, dwindling church under his/her thumb, who squashes every effort to grow, who breaks the spirit of every youth, who prevent new leaders from rising---- he/she is a poison rain.  

Those siblings, parents, or significant others who keep telling you that you will never do any better than they’re doing, who say that ya’ll are just hood rats or poor white trash---- they are clouds that rain acid.

Don’t drink the acid.  Don’t water your spirit with their toxic words.  Move your mind from under that poison cloud.  Bring in fresh water from a clean well.

And grow.

And bloom.

And smile.

Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive. (John 7:37-39)

 --Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Bailey Tabernacle CME Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He writes the popular blog: A Word to the Wise at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com

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